MPs to Review BBC Licence Fee Enforcement Rules

Claims that petty cases regarding unpaid TV Licence Fees are clogging up the court system are to be looked at by MPs, with the Culture Secretary saying there could be changes to how payment of the BBC's compulsory fee is enforced.

Culture Secretary Sajid Javid says that over 10 per cent of all cases currently in progress at the UK's local magistrates involve unpaid Licence Fee prosecutions, sucking time and money away from processing more pressing legal matters.

Mr Javid said: "The government is committed to launching a review of decriminalisation once the Deregulation Bill receives Royal Assent. But we can't afford to wait that long. This needs to begin now. Very shortly I will be publishing the terms of reference for a review of TV licence enforcement. I expect it to begin taking evidence in the autumn, and to conclude early in the next Parliament." [BBC]